GREENOCK'S CRAIG MARTIN WINS
PLACE AMONG GOLFING STARS

A Scottish expatriate has qualified for a place alongside the greats of golf at next month’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship after a dramatic play-off finish in the United Arab Emirates PGA Order Of Merit tournament at the Arabian Ranches Golf Club.
Craig Martin, 26, who is not attached to a local club, beat Simon Payne (Dubai Country Club) in a sudden-death play-off after they had finished ahead of the 23-strong field for the championship qualifier with one-under-par 71s.
Payne, who had won all four of his previous play-offs this season, missed a 4ft putt to give Martin his first professional win.
The Abu Dhabi championship, at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from January 18 to 21, will be Martin’s first European Tour event, but it won’t be the first time he has been to the tournament.
At this year’s inaugural championship, Martin was there in a very different capacity: staffing a promotional stand for his company, Golf Plus, which sells GPS systems for golf courses.
“It will be good to see what it’s like on the other side of the ropes,” said Martin. “I’m not sure if the company is going to have a stand at the event, but if we do I’m sure we’ll find someone else to look after it.”
Martin, who carried an injury to his pelvis throughout the qualifying event, will line-up alongside a glittering field for the January championship.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE IN FIELD
Among the stars confirmed for Abu Dhabi are Retief Goosen of South Africa, currently ranked sixth in the world; Sergio Garcia of Spain, the current world No 11; Dubai-based Henrik Stenson of Sweden, currently world No 12; Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie, ranked 17th in the world; Australia’s Order of Merit winner Nick O’Hern and defending champion Chris DiMarco, one of America’s top 10 players and currently at 20 in the world standings.
More star names are expected to be announced by tournament owner Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) in the coming weeks.
“I’d be happy to play with any one of them. The bigger the name the bigger the crowd is going to be,” said Martin, who has been based in the United Arab Emirates for two years.
Commenting on the dramatic finish that earned him the ADTA Championship invite, Martin said: “I was lucky to squeeze by. Simon has had a few play-offs this season and won them all, and I’ve been at the chiropractor on five of the last 10 days for an injury to my pelvis I picked up at a previous event.
"I’ve been relying on deep heat and paracetamol throughout. So it was good to win. I’ll take it easy for a while and let the back heal before getting some practice in for Abu Dhabi.
“The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship is really something to look forward to. I’ve played the Abu Dhabi course before, but not since the changes have been made to it.”
Gary Constable, media officer for the UAE PGA, said, “I’m sure Craig will prove a worthy representative for us at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and we wish him all the best.”
A total prize fund of $2 million and unique facilities make the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship one of the most attractive tournaments on the European Tour schedule, ensuring a world-class line up of players will compete for the first prize of $333,330.